Fifth wheel campers are in a league of their own! This type of camper is not normally the first camper purchased. Typically the owner has had at least one, if not many other campers in their history. Most upgrade from a travel trailer to a fifth wheel (5th wheel). A large reason to upgrade from a travel trailer into a fifth wheel is tow-ability. A fifth wheel will tow down the road much better than a trailer can. This is because a trailer is mounted to a hitch off the back of the vehicle. This location is behind the rear axle and every turn of wheels is amplified by the distance from the tires to the hitch. What is a small movement is amplified by the distance and the hitch will pull the trailer one way or another. This creates trailer sway and thus a anti-sway hitch is utilized to control it. On a fifth wheel, the connection point is above the rear axle. This is a pivot point and does not amplify the situation. Therefore the fifth wheel is not being tugged and pulled side to side by lets say an extra 7 feet of extension from a hitch. The camper will follow more directly behind the tow vehicle and not want to sway from side to side without another force acting on it. If you look, semis utilize this same hitch system. A semi can actually hook directly up to a fifth wheel and tow it! It is the same system. It is superior for towing than a traditional hitch. If you will be putting on a lot of miles, this is a great way of towing.

Fifth wheel campers can weigh as little as 7,000lbs to upwards of 20,000lbs. This makes vehicle selections important. A half ton truck, think F150 or 1500 truck can tow some of the smaller ones. When determining if you can tow this type of camper, you must take the camper weight into account and the pin weight into account. The pin weight is the part of the camper that connects to the truck. It will attach to a fifth wheel hitch that is above the axles inside of the truck bed. Once you know the pin weight of the camper that you are looking at, you must compare that to the payload capacity of the truck. Payload is how much weight your truck bed is designed to carry. Make certain the pin weight is less than the payload capacity. If you do not, you could be overloading your truck.

There is a school of thought out there that says a half ton truck should not be towing a fifth wheel, at all. It doesn’t matter that your truck is rated to tow 12,000lbs and the pin weights are within specifications. The thought being is the truck is not large enough to carry the size and weights of the camper, no matter what it says on paper. Then there is the thought that the factories rated their trucks to accommodate the weight of the fifth wheel and since it is rated for it, the vehicle can pull it. I have seen ¼ ton trucks towing fifth wheels that were under rated to do so, and ½ ton trucks towing them that were rated to tow. In talking to both owners, they do say that they do not have issues and it is of no worries to tow with those trucks. I can say from experience that if you have an option to get a larger, more capable truck, do so. A ¾ ton truck (F250/2500) will handle a 5th wheel camper much easier than a smaller option. These trucks can be optioned from the manufacturer with a fifth wheel hitch or hitch prep to be added later to the vehicle. 

In general, a fifth wheel camper will be more expensive to produce than a trailer. It is larger, heavier, and will need a larger frame to accommodate it. The vast majority of fifth wheels will be of a greater fit and finish than a traditional travel trailer. There are exceptions to every rule, and there are a few brands out there that are designed to be price point pieces, but that is not the norm. A fifth wheel will typically have better fabrics, a more robust construction, and overall be a higher end unit. This is when you will start getting into units that are designed for full time living. They can also be insulated enough to live in year round. Some are rated down to zero degrees against freezing. I have talked to owners who live out of them year round in North Dakota and even Canada. It is recommended to skirt the exterior, but it can be done with the right unit. There is also a large segment of the population who go south for the winter, and this is the product that they purchase. For a couple staying in warmer climates for 6 months a year, this is perfect. There is more space than a travel trailer can offer, greater features and amenities, and given its superior tow-ability for cross country trips, you can see why this is a great option. You also get to choose the comfort level of your tow rig, and that does play a role. When you get to where you are going, you can take the truck and use it to explore the local area. 

A fifth wheel camper can be used for traditional camping also. Since they offer better tow-ability they are very well suited for those who travel distances to camp. If you will only camp within a few hours of home, you may not need to step up to a fifth wheel. The more miles that you put on, the better the extra investment into this type of camper. That said, if you prefer nicer things, and money is not a factor, this is a great way to camp. The camper connects to your truck over your axles, which makes getting in and out of tighter camp spots easier than a traditional trailer. Storage is abundant and will allow you to bring more camping gear along with. If you camp often, you will also appreciate the added conveniences that a fifth wheel will provide.